Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Report Stage in the Dáil, the Tánaiste accepted an amendment that removed the power of the Minister to reduce the number of statutory sick leave days by regulation. These are consequential, technical amendments made in the Seanad and they reflect the change in policy, in that the number of sick days can only be increased. This formed part of the debate in this House and the Seanad.

Section 6(2)(b)(i), previously provided that the Minister could not reduce the number of sick leave days by more than three days at a time. This is now redundant as the Minister no longer has regulation-making power to reduce the number of sick leave days provided for. Amendment No. 3 accordingly removes that reference.

Amendment No. 4 aligns the language in section 6(2)(c) to reflect the change made to paragraph (b). These amendments have no policy impacts; they simply make the Bill consistent throughout.

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